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Survey finds healthy waterfowl numbers despite late winter

Glen Schmitt, glens@outdoornews.com
5:37 p.m. CDT July 19, 2014

While the number of breeding ducks on the continental level increased, Minnesota’s breeding duck population dropped this spring. This occurred despite the number of wetlands in the state increasing by 33 percent from last year to more than 343,000 ponds.
(Photo:
Photos courtesy of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
)

It could be a good fall for waterfowl hunters based on results of the 2014 Breeding Duck Survey conducted this spring by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The USFWS recently released its report on breeding duck numbers across the continent, and it showed that the overall breeding population throughout prairie Canada and the United States was at an all-time high.

The total population estimate was 49.2 million breeding ducks in the areas surveyed. That was 8 percent more than last year's 45.6 million birds and 43 percent higher than long-term averages counted from 1955 through 2013.

The survey also indicated there's more water on the landscape this year for ducks to use. This year's results continued a three-year trend across the continent of improved water conditions and population increases for most duck species.

Wetland observations, both permanent and temporary during the survey across Canada and the United States, improved or were similar to last year. Total pond counts in this year's survey were 7.2 million, which was comparable with 2013 and 40 percent above long-term averages.

"It looks like another good waterfowl breeding year for a good portion of the prairies and the boreal forest," Hall said. "Precipitation in the form of snow and rain has provided sufficient water to fill important wetlands in key breeding habitats."

Despite late winter conditions that delayed nesting activity by one or two weeks in many areas, reports indicate a strong breeding effort across the prairies, according to DU chief conservation officer Paul Schmidt. Schmidt said DU biologists have reported more moisture is needed in the western boreal forest region and in parts of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Higher-than-normal water levels in the eastern region also have posed challenges for nesting ducks.

"Overall, this is a good breeding season," Schmidt said. "Depending on local conditions, hunters across North America should look forward to another a strong fall flight."

This year’s breeding mallard population was estimated at 257,000 birds, which is 12 percent below last year’s
(Photo:
Photos courtesy of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
)

While the number of breeding ducks on the continental level increased, Minnesota's breeding duck population dropped this spring. This occurred despite the number of wetlands in the state increasing by 33 percent from last year to more than 343,000 ponds.

Results from the annual Minnesota breeding duck aerial survey conducted by the Department of Natural Resources on May 10-25 showed a 30 percent decline in breeding ducks from 2013. Not including scaup (bluebills), total duck numbers in this year's count were estimated at 474,000 birds.

But Steve Cordts, DNR waterfowl specialist, says late ice-out conditions and unusual weather during the spring counts might have affected this year's survey. It's possible this year's Minnesota breeding duck totals aren't an accurate reflection of the number of birds that nested in the state.

"Even though we saw a decline in this year's counts, the survey results can be affected by weather and visibility of waterfowl from the air," Cordts said. "It was an odd year here again with late ice and late arriving spring weather and conditions changed a lot during the survey."

The ducks that were counted seem to have pulled off a good hatch in Cordts' estimation.

Cordts also pointed out it's tough to put much stock in one year's results.

"There's no shortage of water for ducks and their broods and more water is generally good for recruitment," he said. "That doesn't mean we'll be swarming in ducks this fall, but the overall status of ducks looks good."

Minnesota's Canada goose population was estimated at 244,000, which was similar to last year's estimate of 250,000 birds. The number of breeding geese in the state is estimated via a helicopter survey of nesting geese in April. The survey includes most of the state except for the Twin Cities area.

Cordts said the lack of snowfall in April allowed geese to begin nesting only about one week later than usual.

"Although this year's population estimate is similar to last year's, goose production or the number of goslings that hatched was better this spring," he said. "Goose production was above average, or about average to slightly below average, depending on the area."

A recent report on ducks showed that the overall breeding population throughout prairie Canada and the United States was at an all-time high.(Photo: Photos courtesy of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service)

A look at the numbers

Continental breeding duck numbers were up 8 percent this spring, while Minnesota's breeding duck population declined just a bit.

Minnesota duck numbers

Mallards: This year's breeding mallard population was estimated at 257,000 birds, which is 12 percent below last year's estimate of 293,000 mallards, 1 percent below the recent 10-year average and 13 percent above long-term averages.

Blue-winged teal: The blue-winged teal population was 102,000 this spring compared with 144,000 in 2013 and remains 53 percent below the long-term average of 215,000 blue-winged teal.

Other ducks: The combined populations of other ducks, such as ring-necked ducks, wood ducks, gadwalls, northern shovelers, canvasbacks and redheads was 116,000, which is 53 percent lower than last year and 35 percent below the long-term average.

Continental duck numbers

Mallards: 10.9 million, which is similar to the 2013 estimate and 42 percent above the long-term average.

Gadwall: 3.8 million, which is similar to the 2013 estimate and 102 percent above the long-term average.

American wigeon: 3.1 million, which is 18 percent above the 2013 estimate and 20 percent above the long-term average.

Green-winged teal: 3.4 million, which is similar to the 2013 estimate and 69 percent above the long-term average.

Blue-winged teal: 8.5 million, which is similar to the 2013 estimate and 75 percent above the long-term average.

Northern shoveler: 5.3 million, which is similar to the 2013 estimate and 114 percent above the long-term average.

Northern pintails: 3.2 million, which is similar to the 2013 estimates and 20 percent below the long-term average.

Redheads: 1.3 million, which is similar to the 2013 estimate and 85 percent above the long-term average.

Canvasbacks: 0.7 million, which is similar to the 2013 estimate and 18 percent above the long-term average.

Scaup: 4.6 million, which is similar to the 2013 estimate and similar to the long-term average.